Senator Ali Ndume urged President Tinubu to dissolve PENGASSAN, accusing it of undermining public interest amid its dispute with Dangote Refinery.

Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, has urged President Bola Tinubu to take drastic measures, including signing an executive order, to end the ongoing crisis between Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

PENGASSAN had on Saturday ordered its members to down tools in protest against the dismissal of over 800 workers by Dangote Refinery, sparking nationwide disruptions in the oil sector.

Appearing on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Monday, Ndume accused the union of serving private interests rather than Nigerians. “The best thing is for the president to sign an executive order calling them off. He has the right to dissolve them. In this case, I don’t mind if he acts like a dictator because some situations require very drastic measures,” he said.

The lawmaker argued that unionism in Nigeria has been hijacked by a few individuals at the expense of the country. “Dangote is a private businessman who established a refinery. You can’t come and impose anything on a private individual. If you want to be a union, then stay out of Dangote,” Ndume added.